Summary of The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

By Condensed Books

A high-quality summary of Laura Dave ́s book The Last Thing He Told Me including chapter details and analysis of the main themes of the original book.
About the original book:
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a letter to his one-year-old wife: "Protect her." Despite her uncertainty and worry, Hannah Hall recognizes the note's intended recipient—sixteen-year-old Owen's daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who sadly lost her mother when she was a youngster. Bailey, who is adamantly opposed to her new stepmother.

As Hannah's increasingly urgent calls to Owen go unanswered, the FBI arrests Owen's employer, and a US marshal and federal officials come uninvited at her Sausalito house, Hannah believes her husband isn't who he claims to be. And Bailey just could be the key to figuring out Owen's true identity—and why he went missing in the first place.

Hannah and Bailey went out to find out what was going on. But, as they begin to piece together Owen's history, they quickly discover they're also constructing a new future—one neither of them could have predicted.

The Last Thing He Told Me is a compelling mystery that will stun you with its last, sad turn, thanks to its furious pacing, dizzying narrative twists, and powerful family drama.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.B. Publishers
• Release date: Dec 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463738696

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Hannah Hill's second date with Owen is the focus of the Prologue. Hannah and Owen had driven separately, and Hannah had misplaced her valet ticket. Owen inquired about Hannah's former lovers and expressed his delight that these could-have-been boys (1) had dropped out so he could be with her.

Hannah remembers the beginning of their relationship as overwhelming, what seemed to live between us, right from the start (1), and the reader is left with the impression that both Owen and Hannah were happily surprised by how easy their interactions were and how close they felt so quickly upon meeting.

On the same occasion, Owen chastised Hannah for continually misplacing her belongings. It was good-natured, fun taunting, but Hannah relates a dream she had in the days after Owen's disappearance after the Prologue. Owen removes his wedding band in the dream and adds, Look, Hannah [...] Now you've lost me, too (2).

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 1

A knock on the door interrupts Hannah's time at home on her houseboat in Sausalito. The visitor is a twelve-year-old girl dressed in a soccer uniform who offers Hannah a paper with her name written on it and tells her that Owen approached her at her school and requested her to deliver the note to Hannah.

Hannah believes this message will affect her life right away, but her thoughts are distracted by more ordinary concerns: Why hasn't Owen called me yet? What is he doing involving this girl? (6)

Hannah first suspects that something has happened to Bailey, Owen's daughter, with whom Hannah does not have a strong relationship. Hannah is yearning to get closer to Bailey, but:

When I first met the cautious Bailey, I made the mistake of telling her she appeared younger than she was. It was the biggest mistake I could have made [...] Bailey has scarcely tolerated me since, even though I now know better than to attempt any type of joke with a sixteen-year-old